Today Michele Bachmann made some comments about a possible relationship between America's well-being and the disapproval of Abraham's God. To quote her: "I don't know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We've had an earthquake; we've had a hurricane. He said, 'Are you going to start listening to me here?' Listen to the American people because the American people are roaring right now. They know government is on a morbid obesity diet and we've got to rein in the spending."
Since Mrs. Bachmann is a candidate for our highest office it behooves scholars to subject her analysis to rigorous theological scrutiny. International relations scholar Dan Drezner has done his duty in this to the best of his ability. But despite my respect for his IR qualifications I have to question his methods in this case. Most egregiously, Drezner has omitted any literature review from his analysis. We shouldn't forget that eminent scholars have long studied the relationship between deities and nation states. If we want to take this argument further we ought to take into account the debates that have already been had. While we could take this back to the ancient world, we should start elsewhere if we're accepting that the relevant deity is Abrahamic.
I submit for consideration the writings of King James I, specifically his True Law of Free Monarchies.
Here is a conclusive passage: "I grant, indeed, that a wicked king is sent by God for a curse to his people and a plague for their sins; but that it is lawful to them to shake off that curse at their own hand, which God hath laid on them, that I deny and may do so justly. Will any deny that the king of Babel was a curse to the people of God, as was plainly forespoken and threatened unto them in the prophesy of their captivity? And what was Nero to the Christian church in his time? And yet Jeremiah and Paul (as ye have else heard) commanded them not only to obey them but heartily to pray for their welfare. It is certain, then (as I have already by the law of God sufficiently proved), that patience, earnest prayers to God, and amendment of their lives are the only lawful means to move God to relieve them of their heavy curse."
We see here that the proper response to heavenly censure is not further rebellion against the authorities God has installed but patient submission and repentance. Rebels like the woman Bachmann may think that they can do better in governing than the authority God has chosen, but as King James tells us that "in place of relieving the commonwealth out of distress (which is their only excuse and color), they shall heap double distress and desolation upon it; and so their rebellion shall procure the contrary effects that they pretend it for."
It is a grave danger that our leaders are so lacking in theological education that they call Godly things which are only hateful treasons. I propose that all such malignants be sent to monasteries, so that they might learn and contemplate quietly the true meaning of the Scriptures.
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